RBNZ Watch New Zealand - Bank starts contemplating more rate cuts While recent events have increased the chances that interest rates will be cut from 2.5% now to 2.0%, as we have been expecting for some time, we think that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand will hold... 21st January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response New Zealand Consumer Prices (Q4) The fall in CPI inflation to just 0.1% in the fourth quarter of last year, from 0.4% in the third quarter, could prove to be a game-changer for the RBNZ as it leaves the economy uncomfortably close to... 20th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Falling petrol prices offer some comfort The latest falls in equity and commodity prices have not dealt a big blow to the Australian economy, especially when lower petrol prices are boosting households’ real incomes. Nonetheless, should... 15th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Labour Market (Dec.) The recent improvement in Australia’s labour market was maintained in December, which should go some way to relieving the current downward pressure on equity prices and the Australian dollar. 14th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update Equity price falls won’t lead to a much weaker economy While we remain more concerned than most about the Australian economy, we don’t think that the recent sharp falls in equity prices will filter through into much weaker economic growth. 11th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly China concerns wash away New Year cheer The first week of the new year has set the tone for what we think will be another disappointing year for Australia. While we are not too concerned by the latest developments in China, there is a clear... 8th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Retail Sales (Nov.) The 0.4% m/m rise in retail sales values in November shows that consumer spending maintained its momentum in the run up to the crucial Christmas shopping period. And it probably means that consumption... 8th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia International Trade & Building Approvals (Nov.) November’s international trade and building approvals figures show that two important supports of the economy softened towards the end of last year. This reinforces our view that GDP growth in the... 7th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update LNG to the rescue? A surge in LNG exports means that, despite a slowdown in the growth of iron ore exports, resources exports will probably continue to offset some of the ongoing falls in mining investment. That said... 6th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Chart Pack Rebound won’t be sustained Australia and New Zealand both staged impressive rebounds in the third quarter, with GDP rising by 0.9% q/q in each economy on the back of a large boost from net exports. However, neither economy will... 22nd December 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Lessons for 2016 from 2015 Our decent forecasting performance in 2015 means we are not too worried by some of our forecasts for 2016 being very different to the consensus. Our big success this year was accurately forecasting... 18th December 2015 · 1 min read
DM Valuations Monitor Equities well placed to cope with further Fed tightening The US stock market has reacted positively to the first rate hike by the Fed, and we don’t expect it to be derailed by the onset of further tightening. Admittedly, at around 4%, the cyclically... 17th December 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economic Outlook Revival won't last long The recent resurgence in activity in both Australia and New Zealand is not the start of a sustained period of strong GDP growth. While the near-term outlook has improved, GDP growth in both economies... 17th December 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response New Zealand GDP (Q3) The impressive rebound in GDP growth in the third quarter does not mean that New Zealand is out of the woods. With the full hit from the plunge in dairy prices still to be felt, growth will be weaker... 17th December 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Focus MYEFO – Hiding a larger structural fiscal hole The decision by the Treasurer to use the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) to draw attention to the deterioration in the fiscal position triggered by the weak economic backdrop is one that... 15th December 2015 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Update Four charts on what’s next for house price inflation A variety of forward-looking indicators suggests that house price inflation has well and truly peaked and that a sizeable slowdown lies ahead. House price inflation could even grind to a complete halt... 14th December 2015 · 1 min read